HC Deb 11 November 1975 vol 899 cc609-11W
Dr. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will reconsider his decision regarding grants for double glazing in the Windsor and Maidenhead areas, in view of the recent increase in aircraft noise under and adjacent to flight paths.

Mr. Clinton Davis

An extensively improved Noise Insulation Grant Scheme for Heathrow came into force on 1st July 1975. The outer area was determined by reference to the 55 Noise and Number Index contour and comprises, with minor exceptions, all wards and parishes of which any part is within the 55 NNI contour for 1974 traffic. It is unlikely that any changes in traffic patterns have been sufficient to bring new areas within that contour.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will take steps to ensure that a noise insulation grants scheme map will be accurate before it is applied;

(2) how many residents within the constituency of Edinburgh, West, if any, would qualify for a grant under the terms of the first Draft Noise Insulation Grant Scheme Map for application at Turnhouse Airport, sent to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West by the Department of Trade, and which has since been admitted to be inaccurate;

(3) how many residents within the constituency of Edinburgh, West, if any, would qualify for a grant under the terms of the Draft Noise Insulation Grant Scheme Map, put forward by the BAA for application at Turnhouse Airport;

(4) whether he will ensure that the Noise Insulation Grants Scheme Map, drawn up by the BAA for application at Turnhouse, will be revised when the precise noise levels have been fully established once the new runway becomes operational, so that the Noise Insulation Grant Scheme Map can be confirmed as being accurate;

(5) if he will ensure that when the new runway at Turnhouse Airport becomes operational, the precise noise levels will be established through monitoring;

(6) if he will ensure that the Draft Noise Insulation Grants Scheme Map, drawn up by the BAA for application at Turnhouse will be carefully compared by the Department of Trade, with the Noise Insulation Grants Scheme Map which apply to Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester;

(7) if he will ensure that the Noise Insulation Grants Scheme to be eventually introduced by the BAA in the vicinity of Turnhouse Airport, will not be inferior in any respect to the Noise Insulation Grants Schemes introduced at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester, and that residents living near Turnhouse will experience no more noise at night than those living near Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester Airports;

(8) whether residents residing in Ministry of Defence properties in the vicinity of Craighall will qualify for a grant under any Noise Insulation Grant Scheme introduced by the BAA.

Mr. Clinton Davis

On 21st July, in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook), I told the House—[Vol. 896, c.25]—that the British Airports Authority, which is the owner and manager of Edinburgh Airport, was able and willing to bring into operation appropriate noise abatement measures, including the provision of a noise insulation grant scheme, and that I, therefore, did not deem it necessary to designate the airport and assume direct responsibility for these matters. I understand that the BAA has since then had detailed discussions with the Airport Consultative Committee and local interests about them. I have drawn the hon. Member's Questions to the attention of the chairman of the authority and have suggested that he should get into touch with the hon. Member and offer to discuss matters of detail relating to noise abatement and noise insulation in the vicinity of Edinburgh Airport, such as those raised in these Questions.

Back to